ATPN Chapter 44

Chapter 44: Orange Cat

Song Baiyan was all too familiar with Guan Yanzhi’s usual tricks, turning a blind eye to her pitiful appearance. He coldly stated, “Didn’t you say you came here to study?”

As he spoke, he indifferently glanced at the tablet tossed on the sofa. “Is this how you study?”

“I studied during the day! I just wanted to relax a bit at night, you know, work hard, play hard…” The rest of her words were swallowed back as Guan Yanzhi wisely shut her mouth under Song Baiyan’s increasingly stern gaze.

She lowered her head and fiddled with her fingers. When you’re under someone’s roof, you have to lower your head.

Guan Yanzhi’s eyes darted around, not daring to look directly at Song Baiyan’s stern face.

Her gaze finally landed on the soft carpet, where a chubby, brightly colored orange cat was curled up in a ball, sleeping soundly and even purring softly.

Guan Yanzhi cautiously moved her feet, approaching the sleeping cat little by little. Finally, she nudged the lazy cat gently with her toe.

She desperately winked at it, silently chanting in her heart:

Ah Li, Ah Li, wake up quickly and coax your stern owner! He’s so fierce, I’m scared~

Disturbed from its sweet dream, Ah Li finally opened its eyes slightly, glancing at Guan Yanzhi indifferently. Its gaze seemed to carry a hint of disdain, as if saying, “Useless, you can’t even coax a person. Does this cat have to do everything myself?”

Guan Yanzhi: “…”

She seemed to have seen the contempt in Ah Li’s eyes, and was speechless for a moment.

Song Baiyan had been silently observing the interaction between the person and the cat. Seeing this, his tense expression gradually softened.

Ah Li slowly stood up, waddling on its short legs towards Song Baiyan. When it reached him, it perfunctorily pawed at the slippers Song Baiyan was wearing.

Then, it circled his feet twice, found a comfortable spot, and settled down without moving.

Seeing this scene, Guan Yanzhi couldn’t help but complain in her heart:

This lazy cat is too good at slacking off!

But as Song Baiyan squatted down and picked up Ah Li, Guan Yanzhi clearly felt the tense atmosphere that had permeated the air gradually dissipate.

Whew~ Crisis averted!

Guan Yanzhi let out a breath, hugging the tablet with relief, and looked at Song Baiyan with a flattering expression, “Brother, can I keep listening? I’ll keep it down, I won’t disturb you.”

Song Baiyan calmly stroked the cat in his arms and nodded lightly upon hearing this.

“Yay, thank you, Brother!” Guan Yanzhi cheered, jumping up to hug Song Baiyan before snuggling back on the sofa.

Song Baiyan also took the opportunity to sit down, and soon the sound from the tablet continued.

“… Little Fish Head is so active today! Come on, let’s request songs, and Little Sweet Sauce and ZZ, let’s request songs…”

“What kind of live stream are you watching? There’s not even one person? What’s there to watch?” Song Baiyan casually glanced at it, deliberately saying.

?

“Brother, that’s so superficial of you! Who said you have to look at faces when watching live streams?” Guan Yanzhi turned around and looked at her brother dissatisfiedly. She had to explain this clearly.

“This is a voice actor, a singer. You understand?”

“Our Fish Treasure has a beautiful voice, sings well, and has a positive outlook. He’s simply the best!”

“Oh right, he seems to be from the same university as you. He’s amazing!”

Song Baiyan raised his eyebrows as he listened, “What if he’s ugly?”

Hua University had so many students, it wouldn’t be easy to find someone.

“Impossible! His personality is attractive enough. Besides, we like him, it’s not about looks.” Guan Yanzhi retorted, her neck stiff, resembling an angry Ah Li.

As a Fish Bubble (fan name), she wouldn’t allow anyone to say that about her idol, not even her brother!

Song Baiyan patted her head like he was coaxing a child, “Alright, watching a little live stream is fine, but it can’t affect your studies, understand?”

Guan Yanzhi dodged his hand and said confidently, “Don’t worry, Fish Treasure is at Hua University. I’m going to work hard and get into Hua University too!”

Song Baiyan’s eyebrows twitched. Just watching a live stream could give her this much motivation?

“Then you have to work hard. You have to pass the middle school exam first to have a chance.”

“I definitely can.” Guan Yanzhi clenched her fists confidently.

“Also, when you watch live streams, you haven’t been sending gifts or anything, have you?”

“No.” Mentioning sending gifts, Guan Yanzhi’s eyes instantly dimmed. She lowered her eyes in disappointment, “Fish Treasure said minors can’t send gifts. They don’t even let us on the message board. Every time, the admin sister filters out the minors’ messages first.”

Hearing this, Song Baiyan raised his eyebrows, thinking that he was the one who taught him this method.

Yu Zhanrong was singing for the patrons when a private message suddenly popped up on the screen. He paused and said, “Everyone, wait a moment. It seems like there’s a business opportunity. Let me check the message.”

【???】

【What business? You can stop singing for the patrons?】

【Name your price, I’ll double it.】

“Look at you guys! Offer double? If this deal goes through, I can do it for free.” Yu Zhanrong replied to the private message before returning.

【So what exactly is the sound? Can you say?】

【Curiosity +1】

“It’s an invitation to sing the ED for a broadcast drama. It’s the first time I’ve received such an invitation.”

It could be said that this was the happiest message he received tonight. It proved that someone had gotten to know him through the live stream, which was a good start.

【Wow, congratulations Fish Treasure】

【Fish Treasure, be careful to identify the authenticity of the message, and be careful.】

“It shouldn’t be fake. I’ll chat in detail after the broadcast. Don’t worry, if I can’t judge it myself, I can also…”

Who else could he ask?

His subconscious reaction couldn’t lie. His reliance on Song Baiyan exceeded his expectations.

Yu Zhanrong came back to his senses and continued, “… I can also find someone else to discuss it with. I won’t be deceived, so don’t worry.”

The next day, Yu Zhanrong didn’t wake up until noon. He was woken up by hunger. He covered his stomach, got out of bed, washed up, and drank some hot water before feeling a little better.

He frowned and rubbed his stomach. Ordering takeout now would be too slow. He couldn’t wait for the delivery. It would be faster to go downstairs and get it himself.

He casually grabbed a coat from the coat rack, took his phone, and went out.

There was a whole row of shops downstairs in the residential area. There was a ramen shop that tasted very good. Yu Zhanrong often came, and he was very familiar with the shop owner.

As soon as he entered the shop, the owner greeted him warmly and immediately started making his noodles without waiting for him to order. Once the noodles were ready, Yu Zhanrong picked them up and walked back.

He was scrolling through his phone as he entered the elevator, but the signal in the elevator was not very good. The webpage wouldn’t open and kept loading. Yu Zhanrong simply stopped looking.

His gaze fell on the elevator display, watching the floors jump.

Then it stopped at the 22nd floor.

The elevator door opened, and Yu Zhanrong, who was about to step out, met a pair of round, amber eyes.

An orange, fat cat?

“?”

He was startled, subconsciously retracting his foot and taking two steps back. His back pressed against the cold wall of the elevator, and he immediately gasped.

A person and a cat, one inside and one outside, facing each other.